Lucero v. People, 23659

Decision Date02 November 1970
Docket NumberNo. 23659,23659
Citation476 P.2d 257,173 Colo. 94
PartiesFrank Bernard LUCERO, Plaintiff in Error, v. The PEOPLE of the State of Colorado, Defendant in Error.
CourtColorado Supreme Court

Rollie Rogers, Public Defender, Edward H. Sherman, Public Defender, Edward L. Kirkwood, Thomas Van Cleave, III, Asst. Public Defenders, Denver, for plaintiff in error.

Duke W. Dunbar, Atty. Gen., Frank E. Hickey, Deputy Atty. Gen., James F. Pamp, Aurel Kelly, Asst. Atty. Gen., Denver, for defendant in error.

PRINGLE, Justice.

Lucero was convicted in 1965 of aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. The information contained allegations of intent to kill, wound or maim if resisted, as provided in C.R.S.1963, 40--5--1. The jury found Lucero guilty of 'aggravated robbery, as charged in the first count of the Information.' Lucero brought a writ of error from that conviction to this court claiming he had been denied a speedy trial and that he was entitled to instructions on simple robbery. Lucero v. People, 161 Colo. 568, 423 P.2d 577.

We held in that writ of error that Lucero had been timely tried in accordance with Colo.R.Crim.P. 48(b), which provided the 'controlling test.' We also held that Lucero was not denied a speedy, public trial as guaranteed in art. II, § 16 of the Colorado constitution.

Lucero brought a writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court alleging he had been denied a speedy trial as required by the United States Constitution, amendment VI. The United States District Court ruled that Lucero had not presented this question to the Colorado courts, and should do so under Rule 35(b) of the Colorado Rules of Criminal Procedure before bringing the matter to the attention of the United States courts.

Lucero then brought this 35(b) motion in a Colorado district court. Two grounds were raised: (1) That he was denied a speedy trial as provided in the United States Constitution, amendment VI, and (2) That his sentence of more than fourteen years for robbery constituted a denial of due process as there was no specific jury finding that the robbery was committed with intent to maim, wound, or kill if resisted. Without such a specific finding, he contends that the maximum penalty for robbery is fourteen years. The trial court denied the 35(b) motion on its face, and this writ of error is brought from that ruling. We find no error on either point, and affirm.

I.

In his 35(b) motion, Lucero asserts that Colo.R.Crim.P. 48(b) cannot take preference over C.R.S.1963, 39--7--12. This matter was decided adversely to him in Lucero v. People, Supra, and remains the law in Colorado. As to his contention that he was denied a speedy trial as required by the United States Constitution, it is our position that Colorado constitution, art. II, § 16, is congruent with the United States Constitution, amendment VI. Our conclusion in Lucero, supra, that Lucero had not been denied a speedy trial under the provisions of the Colorado constitution requires, therefore, the concomitant finding that the requirements of the United States Constitution concerning speedy trial have also been met.

II.

We do not agree with Lucero's contention that the form of the verdict of the jury rendered illegal the sentence of fifteen to thirty years imposed upon Lucero. The charge in count one of the information alleged that Lucero committed the robbery with the intent to maim, wound, or kill if resisted. The trial court instructed specifically in the elements necessary to sustain the charge of 'ag...

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9 cases
  • Amin v. State
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • May 19, 1989
    ...864 (1985); State v. Carriger, 132 Ariz. 301, 645 P.2d 816 (1982); People v. White, 182 Colo. 417, 514 P.2d 69 (1973); Lucero v. People, 173 Colo. 94, 476 P.2d 257 (1970); Chamberlain v. State, 236 Kan. 650, 694 P.2d 468 (1985); State v. Boyer, 208 Mont. 258, 676 P.2d 787 (1984); Gunter v. ......
  • People v. Nelson
    • United States
    • Colorado Court of Appeals
    • December 4, 2014
    ...has analyzed claims under both provisions in the same way. SeePeople v. Chavez,779 P.2d 375, 376 (Colo.1989); Lucero v. People,173 Colo. 94, 96, 476 P.2d 257, 259 (1970)(the speedy trial guarantee of article II, section 16“is congruent with” that of the Sixth Amendment).6 And as to the subs......
  • Vega v. People
    • United States
    • Colorado Supreme Court
    • April 3, 1995
    ...II, section 16 of the Colorado Constitution is "congruent with the United States Constitution, amendment VI." Lucero v. People, 173 Colo. 94, 96, 476 P.2d 257, 259 (1970). ...
  • People v. Thorpe
    • United States
    • Colorado Court of Appeals
    • October 20, 1977
    ...supports the contention that the right to be present at trial cannot be waived by the defendant. On the other hand, Lucero v. People, 173 Colo. 94, 476 P.2d 257 (1970), held that Art. II, § 16, is congruent with the Sixth Amendment, and both are to be interpreted consistently. And in Geer v......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
2 books & journal articles
  • Crim. P. 35(c): Colorado Law Regarding Postconviction Relief
    • United States
    • Colorado Bar Association Colorado Lawyer No. 04-1993, April 1993
    • Invalid date
    ...is insufficient when specific facts are not pleaded to support the claim." NOTES _____________________ Footnotes: 1. Lucero v. People, 476 P.2d 257 (Colo. 1970). 2. People v. Germany, 674 P.2d 345 (Colo. 1983). 3. People v. Hampton, 528 P.2d 1311 (Colo. 1974). 4. People v. Turman, 659 P.2d ......
  • The Ins and Outs, Stops and Starts of Speedy Trial Rights in Colorado-part I
    • United States
    • Colorado Bar Association Colorado Lawyer No. 31-7, July 2002
    • Invalid date
    ...article will address a number of issues that frequently arise in the interpretation of the statutory right. NOTES 1. Lucero v. People, 476 P.2d 257 (Colo. 1970); Falgout v. People, 459 P.2d 572 (Colo. 1969). 2. Keller v. People, 387 P.2d 421 (Colo. 1963). 3. Id.; Valdez v. People, 483 P.2d ......

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